Mirenka Cechova

"I believe that the obligation of the artist is to answer the burning questions of something here and now.  I always want to create an answer but  in work that does not go far away from myself. It is very important to me to explore a new physical language of theatre and to bring an experience of authenticity to a given subject."

-Mirenka Cechova

Biography

Mirenka Cechova is a 30-year old native of the Czech Republic. From the ages of 10 through 20, she studied ballet, acting, and mime at The Conservatory in Prague. Her work focuses on integrating these three elements. She has two MA degrees, one in Nonverbal Theater and one in Alternative Theater, both from the Academy of the Performing Arts in Prague. She recently completed a PhD, and is now a Fulbright Scholar. She began a teaching and residence position at American University in September of 2012. She is a founding member of Festival International Zero Point, and is a leading personality of The Spitfire Company and Tantehorse Physical Mime Theater in The Czech Republic. She has worked with Synetic Theater in the United States. 

On her work, Cechova believes that using many different types of movement in order to effectively interpret her story for the audience is of the utmost importance. She does not hold herself to any single medium, and is more focused on movement: "I am indeed interested in many theatre movement forms and dance, anything that can serve as a means of expression. I am interested in serving as a channel between the actor and the audience and to find the right physical language to communicate what is at the heart of a work."

The resulting work is visceral and affecting - Cechova has a masterful control of her body, and is able to seamlessly integrate many different elements to create one beautiful, unique whole. Often political, and always groundbreaking, Cechova's work is just now being presented to audiences in the United States. I believe that she will have a dramatic effect on the landscape of modern dance and movement. 

Work

The Voice of Anne Frank (2007) - In this work, self-described as a piece of "multi-expressional theatre" Cechova plays Anne Frank, interpreting her experience through dance movement, and recitation of passages from her famous diary.

Trials 10/48/7830 (2010) - This work, performed with Spitfire Theater company, is about the murder of the female political prisoner Milada Horakova by the communist government. It earned the group an award at BAM's 2010 Next Wave Festival.

King Lear (2011) - Cechova was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as The Fool in this Synetic Theater Company. The entire cast won the award for Outstanding Ensemble.

S/He is NancyJoe (2012) - In this, her most recent work with The Tantehorse Theater Company, Cechova tells the story of her trans-gender brother. This work had only one performance in the United States, and has served as a sort of critical debut for her choreography in the United States. The Washington Post called this work "The Best of Modern Dance" for 2012, and critic Sarah Kaufman writes, "But most impressive of all is simply Čechová's body, which she turns into a battleground of self-identity and societal censure.  Amid all the imaginatively used technology of this show, that body is an element of surpassing wonder."

Sources:

"About Us : Tantehorse." About Us : Tantehorse. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.tantehorse.cz/en/about.html?language=en>.

Galbraith, Susan. "Acclaimed Czech Performer Opens New Piece on Gender Identity Nov 8." DC Theatre Scene RSS. N.p., 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://dctheatrescene.com/2012/10/18/acclaimed-czech-performer-opens-new-piece-on-gender-identity-nov-8/>.

Kaufman, Sarah. "Dancer Mirenka Cechova Explores Transgender Life in ‘S/He Is Nancy Joe’." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/dancer-mirenka-cechova-explores-transgender-life-in-she-is-nancy-joe/2012/11/09/dbbee006-2ab6-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_story.html>.

"Mirenka Cechova ABOUT." Mirenka Cechova. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.mirenkacechova.com/#!about/c161y>.

"Mission & History | Synetic TheaterSynetic Theater." Synetic Theater. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.synetictheater.org/history-mission/>.